Getting a Marriage License in Cumberland County
Marriage licenses come from the Clerk of Orphans' Court, which shares the Register of Wills office in Suite 102 at 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle. Lisa M. Grayson, Esq., serves as Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office processes applications, issues licenses, and issues certified copies of marriage records. The phone is 717.240.6345, and public hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania uses a three-day waiting period between application and license. The license is valid anywhere in the Commonwealth, so a couple can apply in Cumberland County and marry in another Pennsylvania county. A judicial petition can waive the three-day wait for a $50 fee, and a military waiver carries no charge.
Both applicants take part in the application, whether in person or through the video option. The office may hold a license until the waiting period passes, and a license that is lost or damaged before the wedding can be replaced for a small fee. Because rules and hours can change, a quick call ahead avoids a wasted trip, especially if one applicant cannot appear in person.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Most applicants start online and finish with the Clerk. The county lets couples begin the application at its marriage-license page, then complete the process with the office. A video-teleconference option may be available at the Clerk's discretion, and it requires the couple to scan, email, print, and join a video call, since the county uses Cisco WebEx for it.
- Begin the application online at the county marriage-license page (ccpa.net/mlapp).
- Both applicants complete the required information.
- Bring valid photo identification for each applicant.
- Pay the marriage license fee.
- Observe the three-day waiting period unless a waiver is granted.
After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license so it can be recorded.
Marriage License Application Fields
The county does not publish every form field online, but the application asks for standard identity information from both applicants, plus payment. The pieces below are what couples should be ready to provide. Bring originals where ID is required.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name (both applicants) | Yes | Each applicant completes required information. |
| Photo identification | Yes | Valid government photo ID for each applicant. |
| Prior marriage information | Yes | Status of any prior marriages, as the application asks. |
| VTC technology | If using video option | Ability to scan, email, print, and join a WebEx call. |
| Payment | Yes | The $70 license fee is due at application. |
Cumberland County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees are set by the Orphans' Court fee schedule. Divorce filing fees sit with the Prothonotary and vary by the claims involved, so confirm the current amount with that office. The marriage figures below are current county amounts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $70 |
| Certified marriage record | $10 |
| Judicial three-day waiver petition | $50 |
| Military waiver | No charge |
| Replacement license before marriage | $20 |
Note: a certified divorce decree copy is requested from the Prothonotary, which also accepts payment for emailed decree requests.
How to Look Up Cumberland County Marriage Records
The county holds deep marriage history. Marriage license records run from 1885 to the present at the Clerk of Orphans' Court. Modern records are searchable online, with the Clerk page citing online access from 1988 forward and the county public-records page citing 1994 forward; older open records require an in-office visit. Because those two statements differ, it is safest to verify the exact online coverage in the portal before assuming a year is available.
To find a record, you generally need the names of the couple and an approximate date. The Clerk of Orphans' Court is the office to contact for certified copies and for older records held in the office. Historic records, the kind genealogists often want, predate the online system and are reviewed in person, so plan a visit or a written request for anything from the early years.
How to Find Cumberland County Divorce Records
Divorce is handled differently from marriage. A divorce is a civil case in the Court of Common Pleas, filed through the Prothonotary in Suite 100, not the Orphans' Court. Custody and support matters are filed there too. The county Family Law page links the statewide divorce and custody forms and strongly encourages legal advice, warning that the forms alone do not guarantee a complete or proper filing.
The county groups its divorce and custody guidance in one place. See the Cumberland County Family Law page.
One key limit: family law cases filed after June 21, 2010 are not available online by local court order, though they can be viewed at the Prothonotary's Office.
Filing for Divorce in Cumberland County
Filing a divorce is a court process, and the county encourages legal advice before you start. The order of steps below tracks the county's own guidance and the statewide forms. Costs depend on the claims, so confirm the current filing fee with the Prothonotary.
- Review the statewide divorce forms and the county Family Law page.
- Decide which claims apply, such as divorce only, property, custody, or support.
- File with the Prothonotary, using OnBase where required, and pay the filing fee.
- Serve the other party according to Pennsylvania rules.
- Use the proper consent or affidavit forms if uncontested, or litigate the contested claims.
- Request a certified decree from the Prothonotary after the final decree is entered.
Note: the county warns that the forms alone do not guarantee a complete or proper filing, so counsel is wise.
Getting Certified Copies
A certified copy is the version courts and agencies accept, and each office handles its own. The Clerk of Orphans' Court issues certified marriage records for $10. The Prothonotary issues certified divorce decrees, and its FAQ says you can request one by visiting the office or by mail or email to Prothonotary@cumberlandcountypa.gov. Online payment is available for emailed divorce decree requests.
The Prothonotary answers common divorce-copy questions online. See the Prothonotary FAQ page.
Plan for processing time, and confirm the current copy fee before you mail a payment. A certified copy is what you will need for legal name changes, immigration, or remarriage, so order it early rather than relying on an uncertified printout.
Restricted and Confidential Family Records
Family files carry strong privacy protections. Protection From Abuse records are not available online under the Violence Against Women Act. Family law cases filed after June 21, 2010 are off the public online portal by local order. Adoption files are Orphans' Court matters and can be viewed in person only by certain parties. Juvenile matters are confidential under state law.
The Juvenile Act governs how juvenile proceedings and records are handled. The full chapter is in 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63.
Mental health material in a family case is also protected.
Treatment and psychological records are confidential under the Mental Health Procedures Act, which limits release without consent.
If you are a party who needs a restricted family record, ask the Prothonotary or the court about the lawful path.
Where Pennsylvania Keeps Marriage and Divorce Records
Unlike some states, Pennsylvania keeps marriage and divorce records at the county level, not at a central state vital records office. The state Division of Vital Records handles birth and death certificates, not marriage or divorce. So for a Cumberland County marriage record, you go to the Clerk of Orphans' Court, and for a divorce decree, you go to the Prothonotary. The contact below is the marriage records office.
Clerk of Orphans' Court / Register of Wills
1 Courthouse Square, Suite 102
Carlisle, PA 17013
717.240.6345
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.